Cavers banned from Mexico for two years

A team of British potholers have been banned from visiting Mexico for two years because they violated their tourist visas and made false statements about the purpose of their visit to the country. Six of the group, which included four soldiers, made the headlines last week after they were trapped in caves at Cuetzalan, north-east of Mexico City. The group had refused local help, instead waiting for a British rescue team to arrive. But after escaping from the caves, the group was plunged into an international controversy because of doubts as to the purpose of their visit. According to the Sky News website, the group was taking part in a mission aimed at teaching leadership and self-reliance – but rumours circulating the world’s press rooms suggested they could have been looking for uranium in the caves, with some even speculating that they were on the look-out for Osama bin Laden. After being and questioned in an immigration centre for the last five days, the men were driven to Mexico City International Airport last night and were expected to arrive back in the UK today. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad